Finance Kearney NE

Finance encompasses a wide range of concerns, all dealing with the management of funds, which usually refers to money, but can also mean investments in things like stocks and commodities. The basics of the science of finance include saving and spending money and how time and risk will affect the growth of a person's funds. There are different levels of finance, ranging from the personal to the public to corporate, and the people and institutions involved in each kind have varying financial issues that often become more complex as the number of people involved gets bigger (i.e. large organizations and businesses). Financial economics studies financial variables in the economy, financial markets and instruments like stocks, bonds derivatives and others and how those markets are regulated.

Accounting is a system of maintaining and analyzing the finances of a company. An accountant can determine the position of a business through the analysis of income and expenses and is often charged with communicating financial information to the shareholders and managers of the firm. The practice of accounting also includes recording financial transactions, generally called bookkeeping, and auditing, or assessing a company's financial statements and how they are presented by the company's management.

Banks offer a growing number of services to customers of all kinds, in order to cover the needs of people with vastly different financial needs. From the most basic savings accounts to investment services, loans, credit cards, underwriting bonds, and more there are services for individuals, organizations, companies and other large organizations. With the advent of technological advances banking has moved onto the Internet, providing people access to their accounts outside of strict banking hours and the ability to closely monitor their finances and investments. Different types of banks specialize in different services and have different advantages, like commercial banks dealing with corporate finances, offshore banks, which have low taxation and regulation, and private banks that cater to the needs of high net worth clients.

Business loans can be used to fund any number of business purposes. Small businesses that lack the finances to get projects, or their startup company, off the ground, business loans can be the difference between success and failure. There are agencies, like the Small Business Administration, who acquire loans for businesses through commercial banks. Some loans can be taken out for specific purposes, like financing equipment and real estate financing, while others can be used for any purpose related to the business.

Investment banks raise capital for large corporations and governments through issuing securities, assist in mergers and acquisitions and provide other services like trading derivatives, commodities and equity securities. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulates investment bankers, who must all be licensed broker-dealers. Many of these institutions are made up of a buy side, which deals with pension funds, mutual funds and hedge funds, and a sell side, which deals with trading and promoting securities. They help both corporations who wish to issue securities and investors wishing to buy, and are very important in the process of issuing security offerings.

Planning ahead for retirement is vital for people of all ages who wish to be financially independent once they opt to retire. Money can be allocated to investments or set aside in savings plans in order to avoid being used too early, though investments do involve some degree of risk. Many people save for retirement through employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, such as IRAs, 401(k)s, and profit sharing plans. Other types of plans and DIY retirement planning are also options and all of the available avenues are generally characterized by tax advantages.

High net worth individuals and organizations can opt to employ a wealth manager to handle their financial issues, including things like estate planning, taxes, investment management and more. Wealth management services are provided by corporations, financial advisors and multi-licensed portfolio managers. They use wealth management strategies to help their clients grow their wealth and assets as well as to navigate tax law. Wealth managers oversee all the financial affairs of their clients, which can be extremely helpful for those with numerous and diverse financial holdings.

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